Ontario voters were rushed to the polls with just over a month’s notice since the election was called.
Premier Doug Ford made the announcement on January 28, in response to U.S. President Trump’s threats of tariffs being levied on Canadian manufactured goods shipped to the United States. These tariffs will affect the steel, automotive and aluminum industries to name a few. Before this decision was made by the Premier, Ontarians were set to cast their provincial votes in June of 2026.
In a press conference held in Toronto at the end of January, Premier Ford said that being “economically attacked” is grounds to dissolve the standing provincial government and hold an early election.
While many of the campaigns are focused on protecting Ontario and Canada financially, another main aspect that may be of interest to students in the province of the election is funding for post-secondary education.
Post-secondary institutions are facing a funding crisis in Ontario. Multiple post-secondary programs, courses and jobs are being cut due to financial struggles. Mohawk College, Centennial College, Sheridan College and Seneca College are just a few of the many Ontario colleges facing cuts. The cap on international students is partly the cause of the funding issues.
In 2024 the federal government announced it would limit the number of international students allowed into post-secondary schools. As of January, Immigration, Refuge and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said that only 437,000 study permits will be issued in 2025. This is a 10 per cent decrease from last year’s cap. This will result in fewer admissions to schools overall.
Ontario colleges say that lack of funding from the province is also to blame for the cuts and are taking to protest the issue. According to the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, $1.4 billion is needed to stabilize the college system in the province. A rally in Hamilton took place on February 20th with instructors protesting the cuts to funding and jobs.
Each of the parties has made ambitious promises regarding post-secondary education.
The Progressive Conservatives, who won the election, ran on a platform that promised to add $1 billion to a skills development program designed to help workers define their abilities to new careers in response to tariffs. The second-place Liberals said that if elected they will cap international student enrolment at 10 per cent and change the way provincial funding is delegated so that schools won’t have to rely on international students. The party also promised to eliminate interest on Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) loans.
Roma Skocylak, an elections official who works at the Etobicoke Lakeshore voting centre
says, “the issues that are being discussed [in the election] are not issues that are important to them right now,” and that may be why students aren’t voting. She also said, “education is the most important thing in their lives right now and some candidates are touching on the education, but there are many who are not,” and that some candidates are focusing on a response to the tariffs, which may not engage student-aged voters.
Francesca Tsikrikas, a third-year University of Guelph Humber student says that some of these promises may be too ambitious, “especially when it comes to funding and promises about eliminating tuition costs or changing loans to grants. Although these promises seem positive, you have to consider how realistic they are.”
A competitive market waiting for fresh graduates adds a layer of stress to post-secondary students. Tsikrikas said, “I do have concerns. If funding cuts continue, there could be fewer opportunities for students.”
Gabriella Inko-Tariah is running in an election of her own. She is a Humber student and running for a seat on the Ignite Board of Directors. Ignite represents the student body and change on campus at Guelph-Humber. She emphasized the importance of young people voting and attributes the lack of student votes in major elections to them “not knowing what is going on, and more so, not knowing the impact it has on them.” She said that the school could be doing more to help inform students on the provincial election and how it pertains to them.
According to Elections and Democracy Canada, only 47 per cent of youth aged 18-24 cast their vote, compared to 75 per cent of older adults aged 65-74. There is a significant gap in youth and student votes. Tsikrikas says that the lack of student votes is “because they feel as though they do not have an educated enough vote or might not even care enough to vote.”
Skocylak also said that her job and the voting process feel hurried this time around. “It’s a bit rushed. Usually, the election takes place over seven weeks, this time it’s four,” and could be a factor in youth votes.
Voting is now easier than ever before, with multiple ways to cast a vote. Anyone who is registered to vote can attend early voting at one of the 124 voting centres across Ontario. There are designated voting centres based on where you live. Mail-in votes are also accepted for those who have moved or cannot physically attend a voting centre.
*Photo, Mateya Steblaj-Wood*
